Comparison
vMLX vs Inferencer
Which on-device AI app is best for Mac?
Both are Mac-native on-device AI apps. vMLX focuses on maximum speed and agentic coding tools.
Inferencer focuses on token inspection and model control transparency. vMLX has the faster engine and more
features.
Feature-by-feature comparison
| Feature | vMLX | Inferencer |
|---|---|---|
| Speed (100K context) | 154,121 tok/s cold | Not benchmarked |
| Prefix Caching | Yes | Basic (LRU) |
| Paged KV Cache | Yes (multi-context) | Not available |
| KV Cache Quantization | q4/q8 | Not available |
| Persistent Disk Cache | Yes | Not available |
| Continuous Batching | 256 sequences | Not specified |
| Agentic Tools (MCP) | 20+ built-in | Basic (web, search) |
| Token Inspection | Not available | Yes (unique feature) |
| API Endpoints | 7 (OpenAI-compatible) | Not specified |
| Vision Models | Yes (full 5-layer cache) | Yes |
| Mamba/SSM | Yes | Not specified |
| Distributed Compute | Not available | Yes (2 Macs) |
| Model Streaming | Not available | Yes (from storage) |
| Speculative Decoding | Yes | Not available |
| Voice Chat | Yes (TTS/STT) | Not specified |
| HuggingFace Browser | Built-in | Yes |
| Price | Free | Free + $9.99/mo Pro |
| Distribution | GitHub (DMG) | Mac App Store |
| IDE Integration | API (Cursor, Continue, Aider) | VS Code, Xcode |
Strengths at a glance
Where vMLX excels
- Raw speed — 154,121 tok/s cold at 100K context with a full 5-layer caching stack (prefix + paged KV + q4/q8 quantization + continuous batching + disk cache)
- Advanced caching — paged multi-context KV cache keeps conversations cached across switches, with q4/q8 quantization saving 2–4x memory
- Agentic coding tools — 20+ built-in MCP tools for file editing, shell execution, browser automation, web search, and git integration
- API completeness — 7 OpenAI-compatible endpoints including responses, embeddings, MCP, audio, and request cancellation
- Speculative decoding — configurable draft model and token count for faster generation
- Completely free — no paid tier, no subscription, no usage limits
Where Inferencer excels
- Token inspection — a unique feature that lets you see individual token probabilities and details during generation, unmatched by any other on-device AI app
- Distributed compute — split inference across 2 Macs for larger models that don't fit on a single machine
- Model streaming — stream models from storage instead of loading them fully into memory
- App Store distribution — install directly from the Mac App Store for a familiar, managed experience
- IDE extensions — direct VS Code and Xcode integration via extensions
Try vMLX free
The fastest on-device AI engine for Mac with 20+ built-in agentic tools. No subscription. No cloud. No limits.